2 teens arrested after gun discharges in downtown Toledo

TPD's Terry Cousino digs for the bullet that lodged into the door at the Madison Market/Le Pam Pam store in Toledo.

Two teens were arrested today after one apparently accidentally fired a gun in downtown Toledo while showing off the firearm, police said.

The teens were taken into custody behind the Toledo Area Regional Transit Authority bus stop at North Erie and Jackson streets after a pursuit that started at North Michigan Street and Madison Avenue at about 2 p.m.

Police said the teens were outside Le Pam Pam convenience store, 901 Madison, when the gun went off and struck near the bottom of a glass door. The bullet was stuck between two panes of glass and was removed by Detective Terry Cousino.

Brett Armstead, 23, of Toledo, said he was standing outside the Main Toledo-Lucas County Public Library downtown when he heard a single shot. He and several other people outside "hit the ground," and watched as the two teens took off running toward Monroe Street.

Mr. Armstead said he went into the library and asked security to call for police.

Police chased the two suspects around downtown for several minutes before stopping them in the parking lot next to St. Paul's Lutheran Church. One of the teens had a gun and a shell casing in his pocket. The other teen was arrested on five warrants, police said.

The teen with a gun was flailing about while police attempted to take him into custody and put him in the back of a police van.

The names and ages of the suspects was not immediately available.